STAND. COM. REP. NO. 716

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 178
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 178 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR HEALTHY
     START,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the
Healthy Start program.

     This measure appropriates an unspecified amount to provide
operating expenses for the Healthy Start program.  Healthy Start
is a successful program that has been in operation since 1985 and
administered through the Department of Health.  Through early
intervention with family support, parenting education, and
informal counseling services, Healthy Start prevents child abuse
and neglect.

      Your Committee finds that the Healthy Start program has
been a success in helping high-risk families develop healthy and
appropriate family relationships.  Your Committee also recognizes
that the number of families with multiple serious risk factors is
increasing.  Your Committee finds that there is a critical and
continuing need for the services of Healthy Start.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 716
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B.
No. 178 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     SB178